Undergraduate Program

Opportunities for Undergraduates

We offer a variety of opportunities for undergraduates to participate in research programs during the academic year and the summer. Faculty members welcome undergraduates in their research groups, providing opportunities for students to work with the latest equipment and ideas in modern chemical science, in an environment that provides close mentoring and support.

Rochester is a site for the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU) program, providing funding for a number of students every summer. Summer research students have their own research problem, a designated faculty advisor, and a specific day-to-day graduate student or postdoctoral mentor.

There are several ways for you to become actively involved in the teaching programs in the department or as a student employee. These positions offer you opportunities to put your knowledge to work in helping others learn, to develop new communication and leadership skills, and to test out your interest in teaching. In addition you will find that you develop new relationships with the faculty, the department, and the College.

The general goal of the UCC is to promote interest in chemistry among the students and community of the University of Rochester. They strive to provide students with access to chemistry-related networking, outreach, educational, and social events. In the past, this organization has had lunches with professors, discussions with professionals, offered science center demonstration trips, organized presentations and advising, and even put together a Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream social!

We offer a special research-based master’s degree program, available only to University of Rochester undergraduates. In this program students can complete their MS degree one year beyond the BS program by taking advantage of the intensive curriculum in the BS program and by integrating BS and MS research.